"Fresh Horses" --Andrew McCarthy and Molly Ringwald in a grown-up tale about obsessive love. He's a college senior whose life choices have been conservative--until he meets Ringwald, who plays Jewel of rural Kentucky. David Anspaugh directs; Larry Ketron scripts from his Off-Broadway play. With Patti d'Arbanville, Ben Stiller and Doug Hutchison. (Weintraub Entertainment Group)
"License to Drive" --Corey Haim and Corey Feldman--who teamed to battle vampires in "The Lost Boys"--this time team to get their drivers' licenses and the sense of freedom that can bring. And there's the possibility that a license--and some hot wheels--can result in a date with the dreamiest girl at school. (Wouldn't you know--her name is Mercedes.) Greg Beeman directs. With Heather Graham, Carol Kane and Richard Masur. (20th Century Fox)
\o7 "Midnight Run"\f7 --Martin Brest produces/directs Robert De Niro, as an ex-cop-turned-bounty-hunter who tracks bail-jumping mob accountant Charles Grodin. What should have been an easy job (a 5-hour flight to L.A.) becomes a 5-day cross country chase involving assorted cops and bad guys. George Gallo scripts. With Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton and Wendy Phillips. (Universal)
\o7 "The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking"\f7 --The beloved redheaded mischief-maker (kids who read books know all about her) is up to her pigtails in adventure. It all begins when she's separated from her father . . . . Ken Annakin writes/directs. With 12-year-old Tami Erin as Pippi--and Eileen Brennan, Dennis Dugan, Dick Van Patten, Dianne Hull, George Di Cenzo and John Schuck. (Columbia)
\o7 "Pascali's Island"--\f7 Set on an Aegean island during the decline of the Ottoman Empire, Ben Kingsley, Charles Dance and Helen Mirren find their fates becoming entwined. James Dearden ("Fatal Attraction") writes/directs. (Avenue Entertainment)
\o7 "Patty Hearst"\f7 --Patty Hearst acted as a consultant on this film, which is based on her book "Every Secret Thing." Paul Schrader directs; Nicholas Kazan scripts. Natasha Richardson plays the California heiress-turned-bank-robbing urban guerrilla. With William Forsythe and Francis Fisher. (Atlantic Releasing)
\o7 "Short Circuit II"\f7 --That rowdy robot, No. 5, is still alive. Hey--how else to do the sequel? S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock--who wrote the original--repeat. Fisher Stevens returns from the original. Michael McKean, Cynthia Gibb and Jack Weston also star. Kenneth Johnson directs. (Tri-Star)
\o7 "Spike of Bensonhurst"\f7 --Sasha Mitchell makes his film debut as a wisecracking, street smart, brawn-over-brains youth who dreams of becoming a lightweight boxing champion. He also has mob kingpin (Ernest Borgnine) to contend with. Paul Morrissey directs. (FilmDallas Pictures)
\o7 "Split Decisions"\f7 --Gritty streets of New York City and boxing are backdrops for this story of family conflicts and divided loyalties starring Gene Hackman, Jennifer Beals, Craig Sheffer, Jeff Fahey and John McLiam. David Drury directs. (New Century/Vista Film Co.)
\o7 "Teen Witch" \f7 (tentative title)--Robyn Lively, a shy high school sophomore, dreams about being the most popular girl in her class. A chance encounter with a fortune teller (Zelda Rubinstein) makes it happen. With Shelley Berman. Song, dance, and direction by Dorian Walker. (Trans World Entertainment)
\o7 "Vibes"\f7 --Rocker Cyndi Lauper, in her film debut, and Jeff Goldblum are mismatched psychics who are brought together by bumbling entrepreneur Peter Falk. Soon they're involved in adventure--and romance--on a mysterious mission in Ecuador. Ken Kwapis directs from a script by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (they did "Splash"). Ron Howard exec produces. With Julian Sands and Googy Gress. (Columbia)
\o7 "The Wizard of Loneliness"\f7 --All about a cynical boy (Lukas Haas) who's packed off to live with his grandparents in Vermont following his mother's death and his father's enlistment in the Army. Set in early '40s, film follows the boy's humanization via his eccentric extended family. Jenny Bowen directs. John Nichols scripts, based on his semi-autobiographical novel. With Lea Thompson, Lance Guest, John Randolph, Dylan Baker and Anne Pitoniak. (Skouras)
\o7 "A World Apart"\f7 --Chris Menges, who won an Academy Award as cinematographer of "The Mission," makes his directorial debut. Set in Johannesburg in 1963, this film is based on a true story of a woman and her family's struggle to survive and triumph amidst the turmoil of the early days of South African activism. Barbara Hershey stars. Sarah Radclyffe ("My Beautiful Laundrette") produces. (Atlantic)
\o7 "The Year My Voice Broke"\f7 --Two childhood friends face the harsh choices of adulthood. Set in a small Australian town in the early '60s, this film won best picture, director and screenplay awards at this year's Australian Film Institute awards. George Miller co-produces. With Noah Taylor and Loene Carmen. (Avenue Entertainment)
AUGUST
